I know I tend to disappear but I update every chance I get. I really hope things will calm down where I am so I can focus on my writing more.
Disclaimer: Don't own PJO
Review thoughts and ideas
Perseus-
A Hellhound shrieked as the blade of his sword sliced through it's neck. Perseus swung his blade around in one long strike, killing another monster in the process. Golden dust filled the air around him, clouding the air like another layer in the atmosphere.
He dodged the claws of a Drachne, her fangs bared at him and glistened in the early hours of the morning.
He glared at her and raised his weapon, she hissed, resembling a snake on a furious rampage.
"You can never leave us in peace, can you Guardian?" She growls.
Perseus stands in a defensive stance, "You chose a life of chaos the moment you took the life of an innocent."
She laughs sadistically, "You Olympians and your double standards, you are merely us in a more refined form." She spits before launching at him with her long claws ready to dig their way into his flesh.
Perseus knocks her hands away and slams his sword through her chest in a swift sequence of elegant technique. She squirms for a few moments, Perseus grunts and pushes harder, crushing her heart.
"I am nothing like you, monster." He retracts his sword, "Not anymore."
He gets up and scans the previously tranquil clearing, it was now disturbed by the blood shed from his companions and touched by the sinful pieces of monsters scattered across it's face.
There must have been about 40 off the bat, surrounding them just an hour earlier. They'd ambushed them, Perseus being so distracted by her to allow them to mask their scent from him. Now the injuries on his Warriors and the Hunters were weighing on his conscience. Luckily for him, there were no casualties today. His companions skills far exceeding that of the violent-driven minds of the creatures of the deep.
He knows there are very few of them left, some retreating and others with the courage enough to stay and die with dignity.
In the clearing itself, the atmosphere is grey, a pink tinge being the only sign of colour from the light of the sun peeping over the trees. No monster in sight, only his and Artemis's followers picking themselves up, seeing to their brothers and sisters in arms.
But where was Artemis?
He'd spotted her for a short moment every now and then throughout the small battle. Her fighting style as elegant and graceful as she, her blades slicing through the monsters with ease as did her lethal arrows when they pierced their torsos.
Even with the lack of offenders in the clearing, Perseus could hear them crying out for their lost brethren in the distance, still trying to pursue revenge on those that took their lives. He closes his eyes and listens carefully, trying to locate both the missing companions and the Mistress of the Wild herself. There is at least 3 unaccounted for, two hunters and their Lady.
His eyes widen when he catches the sound of a scream, but it isn't of the monsters he kills, it's human. He rushes through the bushes, desperate to find where the last of the danger remained.
He swings his sword frantically in front of him, the fauna blocking his way. Eventually finding his way to another clearing, this time with a path running through it, dividing the two halves.
Before Perseus can react, a small body is thrown onto him, he catches the poor girl before they fall through the bushes.
"Felicity!" A hunter with the name of Tamara screams, holding her hand out towards the girl in Perseus's arms.
The Cyclops raises his fists behind the girl, Perseus calls out to her, but he's too late. Tamara is flung across the clearing and into the trees, hitting the floor in a helpless heap.
Felicity, in his arms groans and hits his shoulder, "Help milady and-" She points weakly at the fallen girl, "-Tamara."
Perseus sets the girl down gently behind a tree, out of harm's way and searches for Artemis. She's crouching Tamara's side with her bow pointing at the Cyclops currently gathering his bearings. Multiple cuts and slices are seen on his body, a particularly deep gash across his stomach reminded him of something Artemis could do with a single swing of her arm.
Perseus's eyes widen as he see's two red eyes appearing in the darkness behind her, she's to worn and focused on the bigger monster at hand to sense it. If she did, it would be too late.
The world slows around him as he watches the hellhound spring from the shadows, his jaw clenching around Artemis's right shoulder, his teeth sinking into her skin and dragging her away from her young huntress.
She lets out a painful scream and discards her bow. The huntress she was previously protecting now defenseless against the oncoming brute with one eye.
Perseus calls out Artemis's name without thinking, his protective instincts kicking in. Artemis looks at him with surprise before relief graces her features.
"Help her!" She yells at him before a dagger appears in her free hand and is thrusted through the hounds ribs.
Perseus reacts straightaway and throws his sword, throwing knives style through the air. It travels with remarkable speed, the tip of it's sharp metal carving through the nape of the Cyclops's neck as if it were nothing but water.
It goes still, it's weapon raised mid thrust. The body falls to the ground, crumbling like sand under the kick of a human. The girl stared at the monster by her feet with eyes wide in fear, her face a pasty white. She's in shock.
Perseus sighs in consolation, he was right on time. He recalls his sword back to his hand and sheathes it just as he see's the hellhound's head roll into his peripheral vision. It explodes into dust a moment later.
He see's Artemis rush to Tamara's side, letting her sit up and lean on her frame.
Perseus walks over and lays a hand on her undamaged shoulder softly, "Are you all okay?"
Artemis's head shoots up and searches the clearing anxiously, "Where is Felicity?"
Perseus holds his hand up and moves to retrieve the girl from her hiding spot. She hisses as he's forced to bend her body, forcing her broken ribs to move out of place.
"Lady Artemis." She whispers.
Artemis stands up and takes her from Perseus's arms, setting the two girls next to each other. They wrapped their arms around each other weakly, Tamara letting Felicity bury her face into her neck.
"Friends?"
Artemis nods her head, "Best friends." She replies as she strokes their faces lovingly. "Help me take them to the medical tent."
Perseus nods and touches their shoulders, flashing them to where they can be cared for by the medics of the group.
Artemis rubs her hand through her hair, brushing it behind her ear. Now making it clear she was far worse for wear than he was. While he was fighting hellhounds and Drachne, she was fending off who knows how many Cyclops. He'd seen them at the beginning of the battle, but when they disappeared from his sight he assumed they'd been taken care of, he felt like a dick. They'd merely gravitated toward the younger, weaker hunters. Cornering them until older huntresses like Tamara to find them and aid them.
"Are you alright?" Perseus asks, eyeing her very damaged shoulder. The golden ichor staining her clothes did not help her case as she glared at him.
"I am fine. I need to see to my hunters-" She states, trying and failing to stand. Her legs wobble feebly and she collapses. Percy caught her bridal style just as she is about to hit the ground.
"You need medical attention. I'm taking you to the medical tent-"
"No!" She struggles against his grip meekly. Her strength lessening with each squirm, " I need to help my girls-"
Perseus narrows his eyes, "You can see them after you have regained your strength. Now shut up and let me help you." He orders as he walks back to where their camp had been.
She mutters curses under her breath, "It is my duty."
"Yeah well it's mine to take care of all of you." He gives her a once over, "And you are not in a good position to be arguing with me right now."
She scoffs, "I am perfectly fine."
Perseus rolls his eyes at her stubbornness. Ignoring the fact that they molded together as symmetrically as a well balanced artwork.
She leans her head on his chest reluctantly, "Obstinate ass."
"Thanks." He replies coldly, not really caring what she had to say at the moment. Her emotions were running high and he couldn't take anything she said to heart.
"You are."
"Says the woman determined to try stroll around and help her companions when she can't walk herself?" Perseus raises an eyebrow at her.
She goes silent for a couple of seconds, averting her eyes from his and focusing on the collapsed tents of their camp.
"Well at least I-"
"Well nothing." Perseus silences her with a look he only used to silence his Warriors when they argued over stupid issues.
She lifts a slender brow at his audacity to boss her around.
He mirrors her expression mockingly, "You can't even argue with me. So just let me help you. I know it's your duty, I have the same duty. But we need to look after each other if we want to make sure we can still fulfill those duties."
She growls at him and crosses her arms like a small child.
"Lady Artemis! Are you alright?" Zoe runs over and grabs Artemis's hand. "Tamara and Felicity! I lost them, I'm so sorry I have failed-"
Artemis holds her hand up to silence her, smiling reassuringly. A smile reserved only for her close relations, "I am fine as are they. They are safe. You have Perseus here to thank for that." She sighs like she wished it was anyone but him.
Perseus bows his head in a 'You're Welcome' gesture as Zoe turns her gaze to him.
"Th-thank you milord-"
"No thanks needed. Now will you please open the tent flap to the medical tent, I need to help your mistress."
She shakes her head, "I can do that Lord Perseus-"
Perseus holds Artemis tighter to his body as Zoe tries to take her from his arms, "No." He says a little too quickly, suspicious even to him. "I can do it."
Artemis gives him a questioning look, as does Zoe.
"What is going on? Is everything alright?" Dante is heard from beside him. Perseus wasn't even aware of his presence, how long had he been standing there?"
Perseus proceeds to make his way to the medical tent, "Retrieving supplies to tend to, Artemis's wounds. Is everyone okay and accounted for?" He asks his lieutenant, who is staring at the two gods with suspicious eyes.
"Uhh-yes. Do not worry, we are all surprisingly alright, minus one or two bad injuries. But they are being treated with ambrosia and nectar, nothing to be alarmed about. We are taking care of everything, tend to yourselves." He claims, tilting his head and regarding the Gods of the Hunt.
Zoe stood next to him with a similar perplexed look.
"Excellent, good work-both of you." Perseus smiles before pushing through the flap of the tent.
Artemis groans loudly, "I can take care of myself you know!" She glares at him.
Perseus scoffs, "Fine then." He drops her on a pile of crates, "Help yourself-go on-I'm waiting." he gestures to the medical supplies on the other side of the room.
Artemis looks at them, a melancholic look crossing her face as she struggles to stand.
After watching her shuffle toward them for a good 30 seconds and making no progress, he gives in to his reluctant worry and lets her lean on him.
"I'll gather the necessary supplies and take them to your tent where you can tend to yourself-under my watch of course." He adds the last part quickly, not wanting her to think he was going to abandon her.
She stomps her foot, "I'm not a child."
Perseus chuckles, "I'm just helping you."
"I don't need it."
Perseus meets her angry eyes and smiles softly, "I know."
The intensity of her gaze lessens as she sighs, "Fine."
Perseus laughs out loud as he watches Artemis try her third attempt at cleaning her shoulder with her only other free limb as stiff as a tree.
She huffs and throws the wet cloth onto the bed, "This is impossible!" Her toga rides back up her shoulder, covering the exposed wound.
Perseus leans down and takes the cloth in hand, using a free limb to pull the side of her toga down, Artemis stiffens and backs away.
"What are you-"
"Just relax." He whispers as he pulls down her bra strap, his eyes travelling her exposed skin on her chest, the way her collar bone met the curve of her neck and the smooth skin despite the wound on one shoulder was just as delectable looking as her legs.
Her posture was rigid, cautious. He felt a pang at his chest, his touch never used to shy her away, it used to make her melt.
He wiped the grime and ichor, the bite marks already almost healed, the marks would be fading into nothing very soon.
"There." He says, giving her back the cloth.
She takes it carefully, her fingers touching his. He finds himself not wanting her to pull away, he made sure his touch lingered on her hand.
"How's your other shoulder?" Perseus asked, reaching out to take a look at her other injury.
She winces, but doesn't hold her shoulder, instead clutching her stomach. Her toga was covered in so much ichor it was hard to tell if it was an open or closed wound. He narrows his eyes as he takes her dagger, ripping a hole in the material.
"Percy!" She screeches with a high pitched voice.
Perseus flinches visibly and meets her eyes cautiously, "What did you just say?"
She hadn't called him that in centuries. It was a nickname she had adopted for him years ago, a nickname only she could call him, once sentimental, now only bringing hurt at the reminder that she had no reason to call him such things anymore.
She blushes and rubs her arms nervously, "Uhh-I'm sorry. I didn't mean-" She turns away, not finishing her sentence and choosing to instead change the topic, "Why are you ripping my clothes off?"
Perseus wanted to poke fun at the hidden meaning behind the phrase she just spoke but decided against pointing it out.
"I'm checking your ribs-" He refrains from gasping, it was no longer an open wound, but the bruise was barely concealed by the little bit of ichor covering her skin. The bruises made it seem like they were trying to trap her beneath them. "What did those monsters try?" He growls and takes the wet cloth, wiping the discoloured skin in a dove-like manner, not wanting to hurt her.
Artemis doesn't answer, making Perseus slam his free hand on the bed, "Dammit, Artemis. How dare they try something like that with you and you not tell me?" His voice is filled with concern, his eyes softening as she meets his eyes.
"I can take care of myself, it's okay." She cups his cheek gently, "I'm okay."
Perseus shakes his head leans onto her hand without thinking of how odd this might look if a Hunter or Warrior were to walk in.
"I know but I-"
"It's alright." She tells him in a soothing voice, her lips upturning into a heart-stopping smile.
The smile that made her eyes sparkle, the smile that made his insides go to jelly no matter what mood he was in.
Perseus licked his dry lips, "I only want you to be safe."
She leans forward, her forehead on his cheek, "I know." Her voice is hushed, her posture now relaxed just like he wanted.
Perseus strokes her face, saying nothing but only basking in the feeling of being so close without either one of them in some kind of dispute with the other. Her body was nearly pressed against his. Her toned stomach was exposed for him to just slip his hand inside and caress her body gently, reassure her that not everyone would touch her the way those monsters tried and failed to do. It was so tempting to do, to soothe her.
Percy gulped at his thoughts, his eyes glued to her unsheltered skin, all he wanted-no-needed was to pull her on top of him and make love to her,.
'What?' He scolds, 'No. Sleep with her. Not make love. What are you saying, Perseus? Don't allow her to take control of you now, not after so many years of loathing everything about her.'
Her breathing evens out against his neck, her hand grasping his neck while the other lay on his thigh with no sign of disgust.
Gathering all his willpower and using every ounce of discipline he had, Perseus reluctantly shrugs her away, "If you are okay now, I shall leave." He proclaims, getting to his feet.
Artemis nods her head leisurely, "I guess I am. But you don't have to-" She stops herself, turning away, "Uhh yes. I shall see you later once I'm umm-dressed."
Perseus misses the gold staining her cheeks, to busy trying to control his own desires that are beginning to morph into confusing ones being in such close proximity to her.
He avoids stepping on the furs and pillows decorating her floor, the fire in the middle of the tent gave it a nice homey touch but this wasn't his place to be. He needed to get away from this before he did something he regretted.
He leans against the door as he closes it, resting the back of his head on the hard surface. She'd never know how hard it was to be so close to her and feel the intolerable pain of not being able to hold her close like he once could.
Unknown to him, the goddess he'd just forced himself to walk away from was lying on her bed with her face buried into her hands. Tears welled at the corners of her eyes, threatening to break open the floodgates, but she refused to cry. Not over him, not after all this time. She made her choice, even though considering the circumstances there wasn't much of one.
Artemis wiped the sides of her eyes with the back of her hand and took a deep breath, calming her senses. She sits up and throws her legs over the side of her bed, the bed he was just sitting on, almost holding her like he used to.
'Why did he have to stop?' She asks herself, 'He couldn't have just given her something to ease her nerves, not deprive her of the only thing that could cause her both nerve-wracking pleasure and relaxation.'
She bites her lips as she wraps her arms around herself, allowing her mind to drift to the thought of him embracing her like he used to, like she knew he wanted to. But she had hurt him, he wouldn't be wanting anything to do with her for a long time, he hadn't wanted anything to do with her for a long time.
"What are you doing?" He whispers in her ear, his breath causing shivers to run up her spine with each word spoken.
Artemis faces him and giggles, kissing his lips lovingly, silencing his protests. He smiles against her lips and wraps his arms around her lower back lazily.
"Hmm don't get me wrong-" He purposefully leans around her and looks at her butt, "I'm loving the view."
She'd been leaning over the edge of Olympus, surveying the entire landscape below. The mortals and their small villages or large cities, Greece truly was beautiful. She loved to enjoy the view it honoured them with, she could watch the mortals go about their day for hours.
She sits at the side, her legs swinging over the side as if she wasn't thousands of feet in the air.
"Imagine being a mortal." She says, leaning on her hand, "How interesting would it be?"
Perseus frowns and sits beside her, making sure there was very little distance between them.
"Why?" He grabs her hand and presses his lips to her skin softly and repeatedly.
She smiles at him and leans on his shoulder, "Being able to live everyday to it's fullest, not knowing if your going to wake up the next day. It must keep you on your toes, it leaves no room for the problems we have to go through in our everyday lives."
Percy contemplates what she's saying for a moment.
"I think you're right-" He nuzzles her neck, sending trickles of electricity up her spine. "What made you think of it?"
She shrugs, still getting over the urges he inspired in her, "Just inspecting them, I realise how simple their lives can be, so peaceful. Why do they ruin it with idiocies like war and violence?"
Percy sighs and stares down at the earth, "That is a good question. But they do feed off of what we guide them to do and with gods like Ares-" He stops, not needing to continue.
Artemis tsks and gets up, "Come on." She grabs his hands, pulling him forward, "Let's be mortals."
Percy chuckles, "What? Why?"
Artemis fakes a gasp, "Why? Because I want to pretend we don't live in a world filled with deceit and greed. Let's be like mortals and go about our day, ignoring our problems." She grabs his face and greets his mouth with a sexy open-mouthed kiss.
Percy returns it with an equal amount of passion, his hands finding their way down to her body and grasping her butt urgently.
"Mm-I can think of a few ways." He smirks, breaking the kiss.
Artemis licks her lip and giggles, "I've noticed the mortals don't usually wait to get to their respective beds." She states, eyeing the secluded clearing in the gardens they were currently sitting in.
Percy responds by tugging at the broach of her toga, "I'm liking this mortal thing a lot more by the second." She can feel the material of her garments fall to her feet with a soft SWISH.
Artemis leans up and crashes her lips on his own once again.
She is knocked from her thoughts by her lieutenant calling to her from the other side of her door
"Milady! Are you alright? May I come in?"
Artemis glances down at her attire, it's the same as it was earlier. She needed to change. She clicks her fingers and her body glows, an ordinary hunting uniform sported her figure. She smiles, satisfied and told Zoe to come in.
"What is the damage, Zoe? How are the girls?"
Zoe bows respectfully, "Everything is in tip top shape. The injured are being cared for and healing with great speed thanks to your blessing and the ambrosia of course."
"Excellent."
"Are you alright milady?" She asks, touching Artemis's shoulder.
Artemis cocks her head to the side, "Of course. Don't worry about me, Zoe. I am an Olympian, we heal three times faster than you."
Zoe bows her head in understanding. Silence is followed.
Artemis can tell her friend is holding back, like she wants to say or ask something but is reluctant to do so.
"Zoe? Is there something on your mind?" She asks.
Zoe shakes her head too quickly, "Nope."
"Mmhmm. Remember you can tell me anything." She reassures her lieutenant with her signature smile.
Zoe returns it, "Of course."
Artemis stands, "Good, now let's go check on them anyway." Her legs are still weak, but no longer trembling as she puts weight on them. If she just walked slowly all would be well. That Cyclops had taken a swipe at her legs, nearly hitting them out their sockets, it hurt like Hades much to her displeasure.
Zoe bowed, "Yes milady."
Hope you enjoyed it! Next chapter is a bit steamy so get ready.
Lots of Love!
-Princess