-Artemis-
Pre-Cal would be the death of her; Artemis was sure of it.
Something about learning had always frazzled Artemis. She was smart, to be sure. She picked up on things quickly. Math was always something she didn't really have the patience for, and today, it showed. She'd already broken two pencils during the class and was working on her third. She could just finish the homework with a mere thought, something she itched to do, but the man beside her stopped her from doing that.
"Stop looking at me like that," she lowly huffed, "or I will make you regret ever running into me again."
Artemis had to admit she was glad for his presence. After everything was brought to light, it only took a talk with the school secretary to have Orion transferred to a few of her classes. Math was one she had done on purpose. He'd shown an affinity for math since they had reunited.
"Duly noted," Orion murmured, fighting a grin. He went back to his work, effortlessly completing another problem on their assignment. She watched him for just a moment, admiring the furrowing of his brow, the way his lips would twitch to the side when he knew he'd completed the problem correctly.
"How?" she spat, frustrated.
"How what?"
"How do you manage to do that so fluidly without magic?"
Orion turned to her, his brow raised playfully. "Besides the fact I've endured high school over and over?" He let out a sigh at Artemis's expression. "You just have to remember the rules, Artemis."
"I've got a rule for you." She tapped the paper with her eraser, magically filling out every problem. "I can do whatever I want!"
Orion pursed his lips and nodded his head. "Of course, my Lady. But if you would ever like help in doing it without magic, I will be glad to assist."
"I don't need assistance, just like I will never truly need math."
Orion shook his head but remained quiet. They worked in silence, well Artemis pretended to look busy, for the next few minutes until the bell rang. Lunch couldn't come soon enough. They quickly left the classroom looking for the others. Most of them were already at the table, their fare in front of them. Orion left her to go get their food.
"How was class?" Hermes asked.
"Boring as usual," Artemis mumbled. She looked around the table, noting who they were missing. Athena was meticulously working on her homework. Aphrodite was speaking to Hestia and Apollo, while Hermes' attention was mostly on his phone. "Where's Cassia?"
"Said she had to run an errand," Apollo explained. Artemis noticed the tightening of his brow as he said it, that worried expression he seldom wore. Artemis had watched them closely the past few days. Apollo was acting…different. She'd known her brother for thousands of years, through relationship after relationship. He had shown admiration, even if the motive behind it was lust, but this was different. He truly cared for her, more so than she'd seen in a very long time. And it was more than the guilt from his curse. His eyes actually softened at her when she wasn't looking. But something about her unnerved Artemis. Maybe it was the way she would occasionally look at Artemis with pity in her eyes like she knew something but wouldn't say. Which with her gift, that theory was probably true.
"You didn't want to go with her?"
Apollo shook his head. "I offered but she said this was the first opening, and it would be better if she was alone."
"She'll come back," Orion noted as he sat down. "She always does."
"Just depends if it is in one piece or not," Aphrodite added. Both Apollo and Orion looked up at that with angry glares.
"I'm in one piece, thank you very much."
Cassia appeared down at the end of the table, making Orion jump. She was perched just across from her brother, a satisfied grin on her face.
"Oh, well, that's disappointing. Would have made things so much more interesting today," Aphrodite lamented.
"You look excited," Apollo noted.
"I am. I got something that will help us steal the book. And I got off scot-free! They aren't even going to notice that it is missing until it is too late to do anything about it."
"About what?" Orion stated. A collective groan left all of them.
"I'll explain later," Artemis sighed. "What did you manage to steal?"
"Oh, just the plans that outline what security measures the book has," Cas explained. "We'll be able to know everything before going in there."
"And how did you manage to do that?" Apollo asked in wonder.
"You remember when I had my moment in the training room last night?" Apollo nodded his head. "I saw a glimpse, but it wasn't certain until this morning. There was a tiny window that I could get in and out without everyone knowing. The guard was being changed, and I'd remembered where Isis and Thoth set the plans. It only took a quick spell to cover my presence, and I made a copy of the scroll to replace it with. They will figure it out after my attempt," she added with a grimace.
"And what will that cause?" Artemis asked.
"If I fail, then my ass is grass because they will know it was me. If I do manage to make it, they would be pissed, but because of the blackmail, they won't do anything about it."
"Cas, how could you possibly know that?" Orion looked worried. The table collectively ignored his comment. Artemis shook her head, knowing she would have to explain everything, again.
"The protections on the book aren't as extensive as I thought. They believe that the first two obstacles protect it enough, but there are weaknesses in them." Cas smiled before grabbing the apple Apollo had on his plate. "This almost doubled the odds that we will succeed."
"Who said you could have that Apple?"
"You were going to offer it to me, were you not?"
"Smartass," Apollo chuckled affectionally.
Yeah…there was definitely something more there for him.
#
Artemis loved the woods. Being there was the best feeling in the world, and it was made even better with Orion there. It felt like old times, which she missed more than she could say. They were lying in some grass underneath the trees, the late afternoon sun lazily lighting the spaces in the trees. A slight breeze filtered through, making the temp almost comfortable. Artemis knew her presence had a little to do with it, but it didn't change how much she enjoyed it.
Artemis rolled over to look at Orion. He was laying on his back, his arms resting under his head. His eyes were closed, lashes fluttering in his sleep. Artemis always thought he was handsome. After all the years, he still appealed to her the most. Laying as he was, his shirt had ridden up, showing off his taut lower stomach. Artemis ached to touch it, to see if his skin was as soft as she remembered.
"What are you doing?" His voice was lazy and still half asleep.
"Laying here, same as you," Artemis snapped as she rolled back over. Her gaze burned into the canopy. She refused to look at that smug grin he had on his face.
"Of course," he acquiesced. "Just thought you should know, that if there is something you want, I'd be happy to give it to you. You don't even have to ask."
Dammit all. That was one thing she liked about Orion. He could read her mood as easily as Artemis could follow a quarry's trail. He was always respectful without going overboard. She waited a few minutes, her thoughts warring between touching his stomach or to deny Orion the satisfaction of reading her so thoroughly.
Need won out over want.
Artemis rolled back over and reached for his stomach, tracing the edge of his shirt right at the edge of his hips. His skin was soft and smooth with plenty of muscle underneath. He was a honed warrior, and that made her smile. She wanted to feel that pressed against her, to know what laying against that would feel like. But she couldn't do it.
When Artemis looked up, Orion was staring at her, his eyes filled with something that she couldn't just pin down. He tilted his head to the side. "Artemis, what is it? Something wrong?"
"No, nothing is wrong."
It was a lie. The only wrong thing was how she felt warring with her duty. Ever since that stupid talk with her siblings, she couldn't get the thought out of her head. She wanted to taste him again, to feel his lips move against her own. There were so many things she wanted, and each one would go against the vow she took. Hermes did have a point. After all this time, one would think she could just do whatever she pleased. Would there be consequences? Would what she gained be worth it?
"Do what you want, Artemis." His whispered words were soft, full of the same want she suspected that she had. "You are in charge."
She was in charge. Remaining a maiden didn't mean that there wasn't other things they could do. So, Artemis did what she wanted and met his lips with her own.
It was just as good at the time before. A part of her was acting on pure instinct. She deepened the kiss, making Orion make a noise that made her blood boil in a good way. His hand was half in her hair, gently holding her too him. She was pressed against his side, his free arm wound around her waist. It was better than anything she'd experienced before, even the high from a hood hunt.
"If you ever tell anyone about this, I'll make death seem good."
Orion rolled over, putting Artemis on her back as he hovered over her. "Noted."
Then, he kissed her again.