ha...haha. hey guys... how y'all doin...
Percy held the door open as the large group of very obnoxious mortals (not really) walked into Olive Garden. Why Olive Garden you ask? Well, let's just say that Apollo almost went super nova when Percy told him no. (Which sucks because Percy really wanted in and out.) Apollo was like a man child and if he wasn't a god Percy would have locked him in his bathroom. Artemis was the last to go in, grabbing the door from the inside so Percy himself can finally walk in.
"Yes, a group of... uh hold on." Apollo turned around to them and shouted, "HEY! HOW MANY OF US ARE THERE?"
Percy's eye twitched and he felt whatever restraint he had leave him. He grabbed Apollo by his ear and pulled him back, the god turned mortal letting out indignant shouts of protest. He glanced around before counting the group. Apollo, Mark, Jason, Annabeth, Eren, Artemis and himself. That made seven, glad to know that he did in fact learn something at Goode High School.
"There will be seven of us ma'am." He said with a grin at the hostess.
She blushed and nodded her head, grabbing 7 menus. Before she could walk off Percy leaned in and whispered something to her. She laughed and nodded, grabbing something from a drawer and asking them to follow her. They all eagerly followed after the waitress, Apollo's stomach rumbling loudly. Wow, He really could put Poseidon to shame. After that growl from his gut he should be named Earthshaker.
Apollo reached the table first, practically diving into the booth. Percy sighed so heavily and frowned when his ADHD brain asked if this is what it was like to have kids. He wanted kids, obviously, but after this he was seriously debating whether or not that was such a good idea.
Apollo bounced around in his seat next to Eren, who for some reason decided to sit next to him. Artemis slid into the booth across from Apollo and looked expectantly at Percy. He did not need to be told twice with that look, Artemis wanted him next to her. Sliding into the booth next to him was Annabeth and across from her sat Mark.
The hostess grinned and started to hand out menus before sliding the kids one in front of Apollo, handing him crayons in a little package.
Artemis snorted as she realized what was going on, "Aww, some one finally recognized you for the age you are Apollo!"
Apollo just grinned and tore into the package to start coloring. Percy let out a sigh of relief. This will keep Apollo distracted.
"Your waitress will be here shortly, have a good night!" And with that the group was left alone.
Percy noticed fairly quickly that they were in the quiet part of the restaurant. He really couldn't blame the hostess for putting them there. Emphasized by Apollo's indignant shout to have his paper back.
Percy scowled at them both, "Artemis give him back his paper, Apollo quit your whining."
Artemis glared at him but gave it back before looking at the menu in her hand. The rest of the group had clearly already ordered and we're now speaking amongst themselves.
"Welcome to Olive Garden! Can I get started on your drinks?"
Percy grinned at her and nodded, "My man child here will have a sprite and I'll have a coke if you don't mind."
"Tea. Unsweetened. If i see a lemon in it I'll cut off your fingers."
The whole table stared at Artemis for a second trying to guess if she was joking. Mark let out a nervous laugh before asking for a water. Annabeth got water as well.
"I'll also have a sprite, thank you." Eren said with a giant grin.
"Gotcha! Are you all ready to order?"
After collecting their order the waitress expressed she'd be back in a moment with their drinks.
"So... did you guys like.. really kill that one woman's children because they claimed to be a better mother?"
Artemis grunted and Apollo's happy demeanor fell for a second. Annabeth was sending warnings with her eyes, trying to get Eren to understand asking these sorts of questions wasn't a good idea.
"Niobe had it coming. She was foolish to insult our mother in such a way." Artemis ground out, she was tense and Percy could tell she was not to happy.
"Tell us about the hunt, Artemis!" Percy said quickly, not wanting to see what the goddess would do if she was truly that upset.
Artemis glanced around awkwardly, she didn't like to be the center of attention. "The hunt is good. Being with my girls, it is peaceful. They are family and I enjoy spending time with them greatly."
Apollo snorted, "and hot."
Everyone groaned but we're surprised when Artemis just stared at him. Until they heard a sickening crack and realized she just kicked him under the table.
"MY LEG." Apollo slumped forward and slammed his head into the table just as the waitress walked up.
She stared awkwardly at them and Percy decided that maybe the twins needed a break.
Pushing Annabeth, which earned him a scary glare, out of the way he held his hand out for Artemis to take. Artemis grabbed it and he hauled her to her feet.
"We'll be back." He tossed his key's to Mark and walked off, Artemis following close behind him.
There was a park not to far away and Percy decided she might want to see the trees in the steadily growing moonlight. There was a park not to far from where they were currently so he decided to take the risk.
"Walk with me, Lady Artemis."
She didn't correct him but instead fell in step. The sun was peaking down lower and lower over the pacific and the salty area hit their noses.
Her silver hoodie gleamed in the sunlight, her auburn hair shining. Her silver eyes glanced around at everything in front of her. She truly was beautiful, Percy thought.
"There you go again, giving me that weird look." Artemis grumped out, tilting her head at him.
Amusement filled his veins and he couldn't stop the slight chuckle he let out. "I am admiring you. You are a beautiful goddess and I just think the way you move is incredibly graceful. Regal. A true princess."
"I have killed men for lesser offenses, Perseus."
"I am not admiring you in an romantic light, Lady Artemis. Merely as one would admire the beauty of the forest if they we're hiking." He hummed thoughtfully. "No, My Lady, I just believe you to be beautiful. Just that. No emotions just acknowledgement."
Artemis was staring at him with wide eyes, never before has she been complimented in such a way. Artemis cleared her throat awkwardly and blushed when he turned back to her and winked. Damn this demigod.
They walked for a little over fifteen more minutes before they sat at a bench and watched the sun go down. The moon shone brightly and it gave the area an ethereal glow.
"Did you truly love Orion, Lady Artemis?"
Artemis sat silently and thought about that question. Did she really love him?
"Or we're you just pulled to him? Was he something that dragged you in?"
Artemis turned to face Percy and already found him staring. It took her a minute to truly uncover the depth of his question.
"What do you mean by pull, Perseus?"
"The ocean and moon work together hand in hand, My Lady, to make the tide. Although you are not a fan of my father's love life you do trust him." He turned to smile at her once again. "Ah, nevermind. It doesn't mean nothing anymore. "
Artemis looked away and sighed. The air filled her lungs and she relaxed. Closing her eyes she blocked out the smells of pollution and instead focused on the moon on her skin, the wind on her hair. Now this, This is peace.
"We should make a list of things you'd like to do before you're made immortal again." Percy suggested.
Artemis was silent for a second before whispering softly, "There's a couple things i'd like to do."
Whipping out his phone he nodded at her to continue.
"I..." She frowned slightly, thinking. "I would like to try taco bell."
Percy tilted his head back and cackled, he hadn't expected that. "We can get it on our way home. Anything else?"
"Hmm... I'd like to disobey one of my father's orders. I'd like to teach you how to use a bow cause i refuse to believe you're that bad. I'd like to build a lego set. I'd like to slow dance with someone at night... and in the rain. I want to get into music. I want to try lot's and lot's of fast food-"
Percy cut her off and laughed. "Okay, Okay! Let's see what we can do here. He looked at the list he typed before winking at her.
Percy pulled his phone out of his pocket and turned on his music. Percy hummed as George Ezra started to slowly play through his phone speaker. Artemis tilted her head but stepped forward closer to him.
"Well nonetheless, i must confess that i'm the mess that's been left to save you. Your situation must be dire, Your situation must be over the creek."
Artemis slowly wrapped her arms around Percy's neck as he gently and respectfully place his hands on her upper back. Was this awkward? Very. Was Percy helping her achieve a dying wish of her's? Yes.
He swayed side to side with her gently and she slowly trusted herself to lean her head against Percy's shoulder. She glanced at the stars and smiled gently at Zoë's constellation, The Huntress. It soured slightly when she saw Orion's and she couldn't help but think about that night she chose to put him in the stars.
Had she loved him?
"Well nonetheless, i must confess that i'm the mess that's been left to save you. My situation must be dire, My situation must be over the creek."
Percy hummed along to the song gently, his breathing even. How weird was this? He didn't know but he did know was he was going to teach this goddess to loosen up if it's the last thing he ever does.
His hands started to rub her back gently and although she tensed at first, she relaxed into his grip soon enough. Percy couldn't express why he so desperately wanted to provide for the goddess, to prove life was different then what she thought.
Maybe it was because Artemis was the most rational (sometimes) when it came to issues resolving demigods. Maybe he just wanted the goddess to understand what it's like to feel so that maybe she can convince the other Olympians to change.
"Well nonetheless, i must confess that i'm the mess that's been left to save you. My situation must be dire, My situation must be over the creek."
The two of them swayed well into the night, enjoying each other's company. Artemis was searching for a way to feel again and Percy was searching for a way to make the goddess understand.
What can possibly go wrong? At that moment, wrapped up in each other's arms, trust and a friendship built itself in the cracks of their armor. The seed had already been planted, now it was just a test to see what would happen.
my my! sorry i haven't updated in two month's. i hope this longer then normal chapter kind of satisfies that absence. I will do my best to be consistent with update's but writing has never been a strong shit of line (: have a good night y'all.